Gardner released from basketball

September 1, 2011

There has been a significant change in the status of Mississippi State freshman basketball player D.J. Gardner.
It was announced during a Thursday press conference that Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury was going to redshirt Gardner, at Gardnerâ€™s request, but things changed Friday morning.
The 6-7 guard, who averaged 24.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in his senior season at Okolona, was dismissed from the team by Stansbury.
In a statement released Friday morning, MSU stated the reason for Gardnerâ€™s dismissal was for repeated actions deemed detrimental to the team.
The most recent and noticeable actions are Gardnerâ€™s profanity laced tweets on Thursday night.
Gardner went on the European Tour earlier this month and saw playing time in several of the contests, but according his mother Angela, he has not been happy since he got to MSU.
â€śHe felt like they lied to him, because they told him there was only one two-guard but it was actually three,â€ť said Angela.
Gardnerâ€™s unhappiness at MSU is a surprise since he seemed so excited to get there during a January interview.
â€śItâ€™s exciting to get a full scholarship from Mississippi State,â€ť said Gardner. â€śI donâ€™t have to pay any tuition and all I got to do is go play ball. Iâ€™m ready for it.â€ť
Things must have suddenly changed since his arrival to Starkville as he now heads back home to Okolona. His immediate future is unclear at this time.
Veteran Bulldog point guard Dee Bost used twitter to speak on the matter of Gardner being dismissed from the team stating, â€śNo matter what I wish my boy D.J. success.â€ť